The Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) has submitted a formal proposal to the Karnataka state government seeking to upgrade its status to a Grade 1 City Corporation. This move follows the shelving of an earlier plan to establish a Greater Mysuru City Corporation due to population criteria not being met.
The new proposal, if approved, would align MCC’s status with that of the Hubballi-Dharwad City Corporation. It suggests the merger of surrounding local bodies, including Hootagalli City Municipal Council and the town panchayats of Kadakola, Srirampura, Bogadi, and Rammanahalli, to bring administrative cohesion and improve access to state and central grants.
The Karnataka Urban Development Department received the proposal after directions from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. However, the Union government’s guideline requiring a population of at least 25 lakh for upgradation to a Greater City Corporation remains unmet. Even with the proposed merger, Mysuru’s population is estimated to remain below 16 lakh.
The idea of merging peripheral areas into MCC has been discussed for several years. Local representatives and civic groups argue that such integration is necessary for planned urban development and infrastructure expansion. They believe a unified administration could support economic growth, improve urban services, and enhance Mysuru’s profile as a growing city.
MCC deputy commissioner (development) Dasegowda confirmed the submission of the proposal and said the government is expected to take a decision soon. He stated that Grade 1 status would allow MCC to access larger funds and special grants from both the Union and state governments, which could be used for urban projects, basic services, and civic upgrades.
Chamundeshwari MLA GT Devegowda, whose constituency includes the town panchayats slated for inclusion, welcomed the move. He emphasized that an upgrade is critical for economic activity, especially trade and tourism. He also urged the government to conduct civic elections promptly following any reorganization, as the tenure of the elected body at MCC ended in November 2023.
As per Times of India, sources within the state government have indicated that, rather than pushing for Greater Mysuru status, which requires much higher population levels—the Grade 1 upgrade is a more feasible interim solution. A similar approach was taken in Hubballi-Dharwad, which became the state’s second-largest municipal corporation after Bengaluru’s BBMP.
If approved, the change would mean that administrative boundaries would be redrawn, service delivery structures expanded, and development plans recalibrated to serve a broader population. It could also streamline urban governance, avoiding duplication of efforts across municipal councils and panchayats.
Urban development experts note that while reclassification can bring funding and attention, the success of such an upgrade depends heavily on follow-through—particularly on infrastructure integration, resource allocation, and governance reforms.
The proposal is currently under review and may go through additional scrutiny before it is tabled for final approval. Officials suggest that clarity may emerge in the coming weeks, especially as the government evaluates similar proposals from other urban centers in the state.
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